[ M5 ] 



grass, which he may preserve till a late period in autumn, and by 

 thus shortening the winter at both ends, he may be enabled by art 

 to reduce it nearly to the length it generally is, in more favored 

 situations, and thereby in a great measure cure the great natural 

 diject of the country. 



A scheme is on foot for cutting a navigable canal through this 

 part of the county. It is to commence at Poole in Dorsetshire, 

 and to terminate at the junction of the Kennet and Avon, with the 

 Bath and Somersetshire coal canal. If this should be accomplished, 

 there can be no doubt but many advantages would result therefrom. 

 Exclusive of the articles of coal, com, &c. which would be con- 

 veyed by this canal, the salterns of Lymington, which have for 

 some years ceased to work, would be revived, and the county of 

 Somerset be supplied with salt at a much cheaper rate, and of a 

 quality superior to the Droitwich. The Purbeck, and Portland 

 stone, would be conveyed at an easy expence, and the timber of 

 the forest of Selwood would in return be taken to Portsmouth. In 

 •«hort, the advantages of such a canal are so manifold, that a recapi- 

 tulation thereof would take up more time than at present I can 

 bestow. 



Leaving these forests, and advancing southward, we pass through 

 a rich fertile country, extending from Wincanton through Yeovil, 

 to Crewkerne; here flax and hemp are cultivated in great abun- 

 dance, the value of which is in proportion to the skill and spirit 

 with which it is cultivated, 



A crop of flax greatly depends both on the management of the 

 land previous to sowing, and on the goodness of the seed. 



To raise it to advantage it should be sown on new broke up 

 ground, ploughed once, and the surface hacked. It should be 

 harrowed once before sowing, and twice after. Seed imported 

 from Riga, and sold at about fourteen shillings the bushel is to be 

 preferred ; and the produce for two or three years may, without, 

 change, be sown again ; April, and the beginning of May are the 

 months for sowing, and the quantity two bushels and a half per 

 acre. 



The great damage done to flax in its growth, is by weeds ; and 

 if those people you employ to weed it, be not careful, they may do 

 more harm with their feet, than their hands can do good. At any 



rate 



